Turns out that July 3rd was an awesome day to be going to SF for a bike party. For one thing the trains were light on normal commuters, so none of us had trouble getting on. SJBP riders met outside the station before riding to the start.

Once we left the station it was kind of a mad scramble to keep up with Sherm and the other zoomers...

  

After we got to Duboce Park there was plenty of time for looking at Golden State symbols and whatever other fun passtimes were floating by. As the saying goes, "It's all good."

     

I counted anything vaguely resembling "Warriors stuff". Even shirts that were just the right color.

        

Our fearless leader thanked us all for being there. Then she explained the bike party rules. Stuff like "stay right", "roll past conflict", "don't get smashed", and "don't say much if the cops talk to you." Then she introduced our special guests for the evening, a couple that just got married.

     

I think they rode a tandem and the cape was supposed to go on the back rider or something like that. Anyhow, it was a sweet gesture and everybody thought it was great.

     

     

Pretty soon after that we were rolling. Waiting at this light in the Castro District I was surprised to see that the crosswalks have rainbows built into them there.

I had trouble staying with the lead group, but it worked out okay. Kevin and them birded the "Left on 23rd" intersection until I got there. Thanks guys! While I was yelling "Left on 23rd!" at everyone that looked like they needed to hear it I took pictures of all the Warriors schwag I could.

     

I was super charged to get to bird "Left on 23rd" because #23 on the Warriors is a guy whose last name is Green. Green is my favorite color. I'm all about the green!

     

     

Yellow and blue Helium balloons definitely count as "on theme"!

The next time I pulled out my camera we were already at the first regroup.

     

     

I tried for far too long to get a picture of that Warriors flag fluttering. It just wouldn't flutter on queue. It'd flutter just enough to make me push the button and then the wind would give out before the camera woke up and listened to the button. It did that over and over. I finally gave up and settled for the picture with the best biking infrastructure marking in the background.

  

     

By this time the gathering felt like a party. Lots of noises of socializing and happy sounds, mixed with a healthy dose of street awareness. Like when the light changes to green people call out stuff like "our turn" or "green light". The group was moving with nice coordination. Felt like riding with fifty or sixty good friends.

  

The second regroup wasn't much to talk about. The feature was a basketball game among those present that wanted to play, but I wasn't one of them. Some of the players had some amazing moves. So quick and nimble with the ball that they must play the game a lot. The rest of us just had a good time socializing and stuff like that.

I like how the "CITIZEN" jumps out at you from that bike. Such a cool sticker!

  

There was only one train left for the day, the 12:01 southbound. Everyone that wanted to go back down the peninsula had to be on it. I rushed there from about half way through the third leg of the ride. Bit by bit a lot more of us showed up. By the time we left the station there wasn't room for many more bikes in this bike car.